Rudgear Rats Newsletter: Week of June 15th
Upcoming Dates
June 16: 6U & 7/8 Social
June 18: REST @ LMYA
June 21: REST vs. Woodlands Declare by 6/18
June 21: Deadline to Sign In to Green vs. White
June 25: REST @ Larkey Declare by 6/21
June 27: City Meet Car Decorating (after practice)
June 28 & 29th: City Meet
June 30-July 4: Week Off/No Practice
Link to full season calendar
TL;DR:
-Coach Appreciation Week is on
-No diving well or baby pool use during practice
-Swimmers must be supervised if on deck before/after practice
-City Meet: Ads/shout-outs due 6/18, Parking passes go live 6/20 at 9am, Set-up starts 6/27 at 6pm
-Green vs. White: Declare by 6/21
Head Coach’s Note
Hi Rudgear families,
I wanted to share a quick update and some exciting news about how things are going so far this season. At our most recent meet, 48% of our swimmers dropped time in at least one of their events—a great sign that the work being put in at practice is paying off.
Across all of our meets so far, we’ve dropped an estimated total of over 1,575 seconds—that’s more than 26 minutes of time dropped as a team. That kind of progress speaks volumes about the effort, focus, and energy your swimmers are bringing every day.
Even more importantly, we’re continuing to build a culture that blends competitiveness with fun. The energy on deck has been incredible—teammates cheering each other on, celebrating great swims, and staying engaged between races. That’s exactly the kind of environment we want to keep fostering.
Looking ahead, we’ve got City Meet in just two weeks, and it’ll be a great chance to see where we stand as a team. I’m excited about what we’ve accomplished already, and even more excited about what’s still ahead. Let’s keep showing up, working hard, and continuing our mission of building great swimmers and even better athletes.
-Coach Mason
Thank you!
We wanted to set a great big huge thank you to Steve Long and Karen Clark for throwing an epic Adult Social! We had a rootin’ tootin’ good time line dancing and hanging with our swim fam! Steve, extra big thank you for your generousity in hosting the delicious food and RATical line dancing lesson. And thank you to everyone who came and participated in the raffle and silent auction. We are totaling up the donations and will announce the total amount raised soon!
Coach Appreciation Week
Coach Appreciation is the week! Let’s show our amazing coaches how much we appreciate them. Use the ideas below as a guide—participate in whatever way works best for your family:
6/16 – Sun Protection:
Help our coaches gear up for a long summer in the sun by bringing sunscreen (lotion or spray), chapstick, or after-sun care.
6/17 – Drinks:
Help stock the fridge with bottled and sparkling water.
6/18 – Sweet Relief:
Our coaches do a lot of talking! Bring gum, mints, individually wrapped candy, or cough drops.
6/19 – More Drinks:
Stock the fridge with sports drinks and energy drinks.
6/20 – Cards & Gift Cards:
Let’s wrap up the week with heartfelt notes and gift cards. You can do one card/gift for all the coaches or individual ones for each coach.
Click here to check out a list of our coaches' favorite things.
Want to show appreciation all season long? Sign up to bring lunch or coffee.
Diving Well and Baby Pool
Reminder that swimmers are not permitted in the diving well or baby pool during practice hours. This is part of our agreement with the HOA and a requirement set by the county, as we do not have an additional lifeguard on duty during practice times. Thank you for helping your swimmer(s) follow this important safety rule.
Swimmer Supervision at Practice
Reminder that swimmers can be dropped off at the pool for their practice time; however, they must be accompanied by an adult if they are going to be on deck before or after their practice session.
City Meet Updates
Thank you to all the families who signed up for City Meet jobs!
City Program Ads & Shout-Outs
Want to promote your business or celebrate your swimmer? You can purchase an ad or a shout-out (with photo and message) in both the printed and digital versions of the City Meet program. Due June 18
City Parking Passes
Parking passes go live Friday, 6/20 at 9:00am on the WCSC website under the All City Meet tab. These usually sell out quickly, so be ready.
City Set-Up
Teams may begin setting up in their designated areas at 6:00pm on Friday, 6/27. No set-up will be allowed before that time.
To make the most of our space:
-Rudgear Estates Swim Team tents will go up first.
-After that, families who waited in line will be invited to set up in an orderly fashion
-Any tents set up early will be taken down.
Please remember: team tents are shared space for everyone. They are not to be claimed by individual families. We're also fortunate to have picnic tables and shade in our team area. Thanks for helping us keep things organized and fair.
City Parent Relay – We Need You!
We’re looking for four more RATS moms and four more RATS dads to swim in the parent relay on Sunday afternoon of City Meet. To sign up, email [email protected].
Green vs. White – Declare by 6/21
We know Green vs. White is next month, but our coaches need time to form teams, and families will need time to sign up for events. So, please declare your swimmer in or out of the fun by June 21.
Lessons
Many of our coaches are offering private lessons. Click here to view all available sign-up links.
Reminders:
-Each swimmer may sign up for one lesson with Coach Mason per week
-All scheduling and payment are handled directly between families and coaches
Buddies
Theme for the week: Bring your buddy a snack.
Stay Connected
Instagram: rudgear_rats
Facebook Group: Rudgear Estates Swim Team
Happy Father’s Day!
And finally, we wanted to wish all our RAT Dads, RAT Grandpas, and RAT father-figures a happy Father’s Day!! Thank you for the early mornings, the cheers from the deck, the tent hauls, and the endless support. Our swimmers are stronger because of you. We’re so grateful—today and every day!
Let’s make it a great week and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RATS!!
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